- Heartland offers a refreshing change from Yellowstone ‘s intense drama and violence – focused on family, horses, and heartwarming stories.
- The show’s longevity, like classic Westerns, has retained original cast members through 18 seasons, providing consistent, wholesome entertainment.
- Heartland’ s engaging characters, led by Amy and Jack, create a welcoming and emotive atmosphere suitable for family audiences, distinct from Yellowstone.
Have you found yourself at all disappointed by Yellowstone? Do you love the ranch setting and the emphasis on horses but can’t stand some of the violence? Or maybe you’re just sick of all that Dutton family drama and want to watch a more functional ranch family as they fight off land developers, local rivals, and the threat of foreclosure? If any of that describes you, then the Canadian drama series Heartland might just be the perfect place to settle in and make yourself at home. Based on the acclaimed book series by Lauren Brooke, the CBC Television production started back in 2007 and has found a new audience in recent years as it became available on streaming via Netflix. If you love stories about horses and the horse girls who love them, then welcome to Heartland.
‘Heartland’ Is a Horse Drama That’s the Exact Opposite of ‘Yellowstone’
When Heartland began, it started as a family drama about a young woman named Amy Fleming (Amber Marshall), who had just been in a car accident that injured her and caused the death of her mother. Amy’s sister Lou (Michelle Morgan), an attorney who returns from New York City, and her grandfather, Jack Bartlett (Shaun Johnston), help Amy get back on her feet just as newcomer Ty Borden (Graham Wardle) arrives at the ranch as part of a juvenile probation program. The two have a rough go at it initially but soon become friends with the promise of more (much more) as they work side-by-side to keep Heartland up and running. While their romance is a major part of the series, it’s not always the main focus, and the show’s later years have proven that. Unlike Yellowstone, which centers around grandiose land-grabbing plots and deep-seated hatred between siblings, Heartland kicks off with a tragedy but doesn’t allow its inciting incident to define it.
The show is aimed toward family audiences rather than the usual prestige TV crowd. But more than that, the bond between woman and horse is the main focus of this Canadian staple, rather than Yellowstone’s small plotlines dedicated to the ranching aspect of the narrative. The soap opera-ish feel to the Yellowstone is nothing compared to Heartland’s optimistic, heartfelt, and often comedic nature, as the show prides itself on its ability to balance complex character drama with whatever weekly horse-related plot shows up next. This one can also be a real tear-jerker and doesn’t pull its punches when tragedy and hardship strike. No, you won’t find overly dramatic (and borderline unbelievable) sibling rivalries here, nor is the tone of Heartland anything like the Godfather-ish nature of the impressive Kevin Costner-led program. Rather, Heartland specializes in long-form family entertainment with breathtaking backdrops and genuinely likable characters that make us wonder why there aren’t more shows like this today.
Call it “cutesy,” “Hallmark,” or whatever other dismissive label, but for Heartland, it’s just a way of life — and one this series highlights particularly well. Although the show often appears on Up TV and other family-friendly platforms, that shouldn’t dissuade audiences from giving Heartland its fair shot. Sure, some of the plotlines can be sappy and maybe even melodramatic (as if Yellowstone isn’t), but the show does a fantastic job at giving its lead characters well-rounded arcs. Sticking to the traditional standalone model of television episodes, Heartland is less serialized than many other Western dramas of the day, giving it the breathing room necessary to focus more on character development, all while providing the audience an emotional anchor to keep them around. This is especially true of leading star Amy and her longtime love interest Ty, who are the main focus for so much of the series.
‘Heartland’s Impressive Cast Keeps Us Coming Back for More
Undoubtedly, like the best television productions, the reason to dive deep into Heartland is because of the show’s fun batch of characters. From the mouthy Mallory (Jessica Amlee) to the honorable veterinarian Scott (Nathaniel Arcand), the fictional town of Hudson has plenty of interesting (and conflicting) personalities to go around. Of all of them, though, the Heartland family patriarch Jack Bartlett is probably the most notable. Shaun Johnston brings a Sam Elliot-like quality to the show and is always willing to set our favorite cast members on a better path. Jack believes that just about everybody (except maybe the girl’s estranged father, Tim, played by Chris Potter) can change and better themselves, and his bond with Ty in the show’s early years only solidifies that. Jack is the type of grandfather that everyone wishes they had, sort of like Heartland’s own resident wiseman who pushes everyone else to greatness. Jack Bartlett is certainly no John Dutton, but he’s the type of honest and trustworthy rancher you’d actually want by your side.
